Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Becoming or Being?

The American Dream tells us we can be whoever we want - we too can become someone special. We can become wealthy, we can become successful, we can become more than we knew possible. Our only limits are our imaginations. The Dream is one of the most compelling and pervasive stories ever told. The Rags To Riches, The Heroic Journey, the Cinderella mythologies tell us a similar tale. It's up to us. It's all out there waiting to be unlocked.

The Odysseus Journey tells it another way - the idea that we are forever trying to get home - home to Ithaca - to ourselves - to be at peace with who we are and to know that we are enough - that we are OK right here, right now.

The two tales compete and fuse to form the ultimate test of human capacity - the super-ideal of becoming who we are - which is an extraordinary human being - the idea of having it all through remembering the simplicity of being us.

Right now you and I are caught between these two hard places - veering from left to right - trying to seize the day whilst letting it all flow. Being perfect as we are with our frailties whilst striving to become perfect selves that will withstand whatever anyone throws at us.

It's an impossibility.

This is a Condor Moment - the time to blast through the two stories we are living and to face up to our reality.

Reality check.

You have talents that you have tried and tested.

You have family, friends and associations that you have tried and tested.

You have access to a computer and mobile technology that lets you connect with anyone in the world right now.

You take a breath every few seconds and you are alive. You are a sentient being.

Nothing more, nothing less.

You may become the next big thing - but it is much more likely you won't. Mark Zuckerberg is not like us.

Roman Abramovich is not
like us. He did an extraordinary thing. Simon Cowell is not like us, he did an
extraordinary thing. Steve Jobs is not like us – he did…

Of course we each do
extraordinary things in many ways. Of course we are each as important as one another
whatever material impact we achieve while we are here.

But the American Dream is a
Dream it is not reality – the Odysseus Journey is a myth – it is not a reality.

Loving the reality – the detail
of our real world is what is essential to us – each and every one – loving every
last drop of life as it presents itself to us – being flexible to our selves –
each moment – with a full and true acceptance of all that is and all that is
not – is very heady stuff.

Celebrities are imaginary
beings – we imagine their world – they are unusual creatures each and every one
of them – each paying a price we do not know – each living a reality we do not
comprehend.

Our culture has dreamed us
up and put us on a screen for all to watch – our technology has speeded up our
experiences and dazzled our minds with dances of unbelievable magnitude. We
crave and desire what has been sold to us as our destiny… a perfect world where
we star and where we shine.

Get up and do stuff, here's why...

BusinessWorking well gives people a real sense of achievement and satisfaction. Highly productive and successful people have a strong belief in what they do, a clear understanding of how to progress and a desire to make things happen. They listen and learn and perform at every level. Live business activities stimulate this and support well connected, highly networked confident companies and organisations.

Challenging NormsMany live performances challenge stereotypes and current thinking, offering new solutions to age old problems or just a new viewpoint which stimulates debate

ChemistryA physical chemical that is released when we are close up and personal with others that we find exciting. This is not just a sexual thing it can be released being around people in platonic settings too

ClosenessOften you see couples holding hands or families holding hands when they are at events this is part of the essential glue that binds us

ConnectionWhen we go out and do things we are around other people who are likeminded and enthusiastic this gives us a feeling of connection, an idea we are not alone

CuriosityBeing curious is a healthy state of mind - it means you are open to possibility, alive

DiscussionBy doing different things you can join in conversations with friends and families and even passing strangers and tell them things you are up to

DistractionThe mind needs distraction from worries and anxieties, events and live stuff offers a positive distraction from the daily grind

EnergyWe get energy from everything that surrounds us, live activities generate energy for everyone taking part

FascinationSeeing what people are doing, crafts and skills they exhibit we are taken into a satisfying state of fascination

GraceLooking at fine art takes us into a state of grace as we contemplate the human skill that has gone into the work and the story being told

HappinessA feeling of being alive creates chemicals in the brain which we experience as happiness, getting out and taking part, learning and discovering creates oodles of happiness

InspirationWe find other people inspiring, their talent and determination helps us to see that things are possible, that things are happening, when we experience these close up it makes them real to us and gives us the idea we could do that too

JoyAnother great mood to experience, being around friends, sharing ideas and being creative gives us joyful times

KnowledgeIt's not about power, it's about wisdom. As you build knowledge and apply that knowledge so your life opens up wider

LaughterGoing out and doing interesting things gives us a good mood which makes it easier to find things to laugh about. Laughter adds to the wellbeing we feel

LearningWe find we are slowly and surely learning new things and growing this leads to a sense of meaning in our life

MemoriesMemories give us meaning. We remember who we are often through what we've done.

MoodGreat experiences alter our mood, which help us feel better and change the way our brains work. They make us more positive about our lives.

NeoThe word for new, our brain loves new things and new ideas, get out and discover your curiosity gene

OpenWhen we are open to each other and to other cultures we find our world expands and becomes exciting and inspiring

PromiseWe all have so much promise. Take yourself out and about and you will experience different sights and sounds, meet new people and enjoy new insights.

QuietReflecting on what's going on in the world gives us a welcome break from multi-screen stimulus

RelaxationEnjoying a day out fishing or pursuing any special interest can offer a fab way to relax and to recharge

RoamToo much of our lives are dictated by the clock, make time to roam again, without an agenda or a to do list

StrayStray from the norm, find places you don't normally visit and drop by, stand and stare for a while, notice what's all around you

TogethernessIs a warm feeling that comes from sharing a day out with family and friends

UnderstandingWhen we watch another and listen and learn we understand a little more about ourselves and those around us

VictoryWhether it's ours or another's there is a rush of euphoria that we feel when we experience triumph

WillingnessWillingness to go beyond our usual habits and routines breathes new life into our world

YouthfulThat's how we feel when we refresh our world through real life experiences on a moment by moment, basis

ZestThe life force that runs through us when we are excited by our place in the world